Could the Altanta Public Schools cheating scandal happen here?

APS Georgia has suffered a cheating scandal, link. Hundreds
of administrators and teachers falsified student test results;
erasing incorrect answers and replacing them.

It is fair to wonder if a cheating scandal like this could occur
in our own APS.

Among contributing factors in the Atlanta Public Schools;

• inordinate pressure to meet unreachable NCLB goals,
• an administration that discouraged whistleblowing, and
• a celebrated Superintendent.

So, in our APS, is there inordinate pressure being put on
teachers and administrators to meet unrealistic goals?

Ask any teacher or administrator.

In our APS, is there fear of retribution and retaliation against whistleblowers?

A recent audit of the leadership of the APS conducted by the Council of the Great City Schools, found;

"... a culture of fear of retribution and retaliation ..."

that keeps APS employees from reporting the administrative mis, mal, and non-feasance they witness.

Do we have a celebrated Superintendent?

Just ask anyone in the nearly million tax dollars a year
communications effort headed by APS Executive Director of
Communications Monica Armenta.

He enjoys celebrity for other reasons.

APS Supt Winston Brooks has an earned reputation as a bully with anger management issues.

Can you imagine anyone in the
APS going to him to report
administrators having them
change test responses?

If Brooks can hide the Caswell
Report from you, a report that
details public corruption and
felony criminal misconduct involving
APS senior administrators, would anyone be surprised to find
he was hiding widespread cheating?




photo Mark Bralley